Not Enough

Meeting his gaze, Gu Chengyin spoke candidly, "Lord Minister, you overthink it. Yunying and I are merely colleagues working together in service of His Highness."

He paused, then added, "If anything, Yunying has offered me guidance in my cultivation, making her half a master to me."

"Oh? You share such a bond?"

The tension in Shangguan Yuan's eyes instantly dissipated, replaced by a broad smile. "That girl Yun'er can actually be a teacher to others? Excellent. Principal Gu is young and promising; to earn the title of 'master' from you is her honor."

The heavy stone in his heart finally dropped. It seemed his daughter and this favorite of His Highness shared a proper relationship as colleagues and part-time master and disciple. This dynamic was far more reassuring.

......

Once the family banquet concluded, Shangguan Yuan extended a smiling invitation. "Principal Gu, if you do not mind a modest brew, how about joining me in the study to sample some new tea?"

Gu Chengyin knew the main event had arrived. "Since the Lord Minister invites me, I would be honored to accept."

Seeing this, Shangguan Yunying instinctively moved to follow them. "Father, I—"

"Yun'er," Shangguan Yuan interrupted gently. "Go spend some time with your mother. Have a heart-to-heart with her. Principal Gu and I are merely going to discuss some trivial matters."

Shangguan Yunying looked at Gu Chengyin, her eyes filled with unspoken questions.

Gu Chengyin offered her a reassuring glance.

Only then did she purse her lips, swallowing her words, and replied softly, "Yes, Father."

She stood and watched as the two men made their way toward the study.

Inside the study, the furnishings were antique and elegant, accompanied by the curling smoke of sandalwood incense.

Shangguan Yuan dismissed the servants and personally poured Gu Chengyin a cup of clear, fragrant tea, the smile fading from his face.

"Principal Gu, let us speak plainly."

Shangguan Yuan got straight to the point, forsaking any pleasantries. "I know exactly why His Highness sent you here."

"No matter what others may say, my heart still lies with His Highness. I can be considered half a member of the Crown Prince's faction, and I have no intention of making things difficult for him."

With that, he unlocked a drawer in his desk, withdrew a pre-prepared silk scroll containing a list of names, and gently pushed it across the table to Gu Chengyin.

"You have free rein to investigate the people on this list. Their accounts are riddled with discrepancies, and the evidence will not be hard to find."

"This will be more than enough to report back to His Highness. It will also serve to curb the arrogance of certain individuals who have overextended their reach. The waters of the Ministry of Revenue are not something just anyone can muddy."

Gu Chengyin took the list, his sharp gaze sweeping over the names like lightning.

There were about seven or eight names in total. The highest rank among them was merely a fifth-grade official. Furthermore, most occupied positions that appeared lucrative but were actually highly expendable, making them perfect scapegoats.

His mind rapidly cross-referenced the names against the intricate web of personnel, authority, and vested interests within the Great Luo Dynasty's court, causing him to frown slightly.

The list Shangguan Yuan provided was exactly as Shangguan Yunying had predicted: it had some bite, but its impact would be extremely limited.

These men were clearly sacrificial lambs, prepared well in advance.

Presenting these people to His Highness would not even scratch the surface of the corruption, let alone achieve their primary objective.

Given Shangguan Yuan's status and experience, the slight furrow of Gu Chengyin's brow did not escape his sharp eyes.

Chuckling, the Minister leaned back in his chair and picked up his teacup. He spoke with earnest gravity, "Principal Gu, it is a good thing for young people to be ambitious and driven, but one must also understand the importance of moderation."

"Acting too hastily can easily backfire. This list is more than enough for you to secure your footing with His Highness, and it will grant the Ministry of Revenue a period of peace. Do not bite off more than you can chew."

Gu Chengyin did not argue, nor did he show any displeasure at being lectured.

Instead, he gently placed the list back onto the desk, raised his eyes, and met Shangguan Yuan's gaze.

"Lord Minister," Gu Chengyin began. "During dinner, you asked about my relationship with Yunying. Now, I would like to ask you a question in return."

Shangguan Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Go ahead."

"How is your relationship with Yunying?" Gu Chengyin stared directly at him. "Or rather, as a father, do you truly cherish your daughter?"

Shangguan Yuan answered without hesitation, "Yun'er is the apple of my eye. She has been brilliant and clever since childhood, possessing a noble character. Furthermore, she is fortunate enough to have earned His Highness's trust and holds an important position. Naturally, I cherish her dearly and hold high hopes for her future."

"Is that so?" Gu Chengyin slowly shook his head, his gaze dropping back to the list. "Yet, judging by this list, I do not believe you care much for Yunying's future, or her life."

The composure on Shangguan Yuan's face instantly froze. "Principal Gu, what is the meaning of this?!" he demanded, a mix of shock and anger in his voice.

Gu Chengyin leaned forward slightly, his tone calm. "Lord Minister, you keep claiming to be 'half' a member of the Crown Prince's faction. But looking at the entire court, who would actually view you as merely 'half'?"

"You are the Minister of Revenue, controlling the lifeblood of the empire's finances and provisions. There are some things you cannot simply wash your hands of just because you wish to."

"Since His Highness intends to replenish the state treasury, he first needs a sharp blade to cut through the fog."

"His Highness has placed that blade in my hands, and the very first place I visited was your estate."

"You know better than I do what this implies." Gu Chengyin lowered his voice, making his words carry an even heavier weight. "It means that you will either be the first touchstone His Highness strikes down, or you must become his second blade."

He paused for a moment, allowing Shangguan Yuan to digest his words before continuing. "This list might allow you to scrape by for now. But what happens next?"

"The national treasury will remain empty, and His Highness will certainly not be satisfied. He will inevitably be forced to strike a second and third time. The resistance will only grow stronger, and the situation will become far more perilous."

"And those corrupt officials you choose to protect, will they be grateful to you? No. They will only see you as weak and realize there is an opportunity to be exploited."

"Once His Highness refuses to let the matter drop, they will undoubtedly try to pin the blame on you, Yunying, or the entire Crown Prince faction in order to save their own skins."

"If they can wipe out the Crown Prince's faction and leave His Highness as a commander without an army, wouldn't they be perfectly safe?"

"Lord Minister," Gu Chengyin said, his gaze turning profound as he delivered his final warning. "When you gaze into the abyss."

"The abyss also gazes into you."

A deathly silence fell over the study. The only sounds were the soft sizzling of the copper kettle on the small red clay stove and the quiet crackle of the burning sandalwood incense.

The color drained from Shangguan Yuan's face bit by bit. His hands, resting on his knees, clenched into tight fists without him even realizing it.

Gu Chengyin's words had ruthlessly stripped away his wishful thinking, laying bare the bloody reality of the risks he had refused to confront.

He had underestimated Luo Zhao's determination, just as he had underestimated the vicious backlash that would occur once the treacherous waters of the court were truly stirred.

After a long pause, Shangguan Yuan finally took a deep breath. His voice was laced with a dry exhaustion, yet it still harbored a trace of stubbornness and probing.

"Your words hold some truth. They are alarmist, yet they strike directly at the heart of the matter."

He raised his eyes, looking at Gu Chengyin with a complex gaze. "But, if you think a few words are enough to make me gamble my entire family's lives and fortune."

"I am afraid."

"It is simply not enough."